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smokers smell! (ot)

updated sun 18 apr 04

 

Iris Artist on fri 16 apr 04


No need to apologize, but those reasons you listed about the fabrics, etc, are the exact reason why I don't smoke in the house. And, no my clients don't know I smoke, because as a master of hiding stuff from my parents, which I aquired as a teenager, I don't smoke if I am expecting clients, unless I am having a shower first. I know that may seem silly, why should I care what others think, well, I do. I gave up smoking when I became pregnant, and then started up again after Laurel was 6 months old, because my hubby hadn't stopped and it was driving me nuts... Well now he is on the soap box and wants to quit, but I'll save my breath on that one... Nothing is worse than when you stop and the spouse who bothered you for years to stop doesn't. The Irony is that he lost both his parents to smoking as well, and niether of mine smoke... life is wierd.
~Stäcy, who wants to quit and has talked to the doc about it this week, but is still uncertain if she wants to pay 140.00 a month for Zyban...

"Kenneth J. Nowicki" wrote:
Iris Artist wrote:

> If I have clients over you can bet they have no idea that I smoke, unless
they do.

Stacy,

No offense, but don't count on your clients not having any idea that you are
smoker. I can practically detect a smoker from clear across the room. (Okay,
so I'm stretching the truth slightly here...) But seriously, if I'm within 6
feet or so of that smoker... my nose picks up that stale acrid smell someone
who's just had a cigarette... even if it was over an hour or more ago. I have to
agree with ctopots@yahoo.com here, smokers smell. I think when you have been
a smoker for such a long time, you don't even realize that there is an odor
about you... it's in your hair... your clothes... skin... breath...
everything... not to mention your surroundings if that is where you choose to smoke. It
gets into the fabrics of furniture, drapes, window shades, a film on windows,
even in the paint! Nonsmokers can smell it... I would be willing to bet most
smokers don't notice it that much, if at all.

Don't mean to be on a soapbox or anything here... not passing judgment on
anyone. I just know what my nose knows from my experiences.

I grew up the youngest of three boys. Both parents had been lifelong smokers
since they were 13 or 14 years old. At one point, Dad smoked 2 packs of Camel
unfiltered smokes a day. Eventually, they each cut back to 1 pack or so of
Kents, & Tarrytons. I grew up all around it. All the time. In the car with the
windows rolled up. In the home where my Mom lit up cigarettes and had more than
one going lying in some ashtray at various times in various places like
incense... she'd forget that she lit one up in another room or whatever. Their
bathroom reeked unbelievably of ciggies... worst room in the house by far... no
window... just a little 6 inch worthless ceiling fan. I'm certain she smoked
throughout her pregnancies as well... back then in the 50s they didn't know how
bad it was for you or the baby. (I'm sure smoking while she was pregnant with
me, as well as all the secondhand smoke was probably why my eyes were so messed
up at birth... as well as the ease in which I can now contract chronic
bronchitis... but that's an argument for another day...) Mom contracted asthma later
in life. She never quit smoking. She actually died from a sudden severe asthma
attack when she was only 62. Her pulmonary doctor wouldn't come right out and
say that her attack was directly the result of her smoking. When I questioned
him, it was obvious to me that he was a bit guarded about the subject and not
being forthright... but when I discussed it further, he admitted that it
certainly made her situation much worse being a smoker. My Dad nearly quit after
that, but couldn't quite do it. He died at age 64 of kidney cancer only 14
months later. Once he discovered he had cancer and it was inoperable, he pretty
much said "screw it" and smoked as he pleased. I don't blame him. It must be one
of the worst addictions known to mankind.

I'll stop now, before I DO climb onto my soapbox. I don't want to offend
anyone, but this subject is very sensitive to me.

- Ken

"In Long Island where it FINALLY stopped raining! Yay! The sun is out...
clear blue skies... Spring is in the air... and weatherman says it will be a
gorgeous weekend with temps climbing into the high 70s and even 80 on Monday!"

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Kenneth J. Nowicki on fri 16 apr 04


Iris Artist wrote:

> If I have clients over you can bet they have no idea that I smoke, unless
they do.

Stacy,

No offense, but don't count on your clients not having any idea that you are
smoker. I can practically detect a smoker from clear across the room. (Okay,
so I'm stretching the truth slightly here...) But seriously, if I'm within 6
feet or so of that smoker... my nose picks up that stale acrid smell someone
who's just had a cigarette... even if it was over an hour or more ago. I have to
agree with ctopots@yahoo.com here, smokers smell. I think when you have been
a smoker for such a long time, you don't even realize that there is an odor
about you... it's in your hair... your clothes... skin... breath...
everything... not to mention your surroundings if that is where you choose to smoke. It
gets into the fabrics of furniture, drapes, window shades, a film on windows,
even in the paint! Nonsmokers can smell it... I would be willing to bet most
smokers don't notice it that much, if at all.

Don't mean to be on a soapbox or anything here... not passing judgment on
anyone. I just know what my nose knows from my experiences.

I grew up the youngest of three boys. Both parents had been lifelong smokers
since they were 13 or 14 years old. At one point, Dad smoked 2 packs of Camel
unfiltered smokes a day. Eventually, they each cut back to 1 pack or so of
Kents, & Tarrytons. I grew up all around it. All the time. In the car with the
windows rolled up. In the home where my Mom lit up cigarettes and had more than
one going lying in some ashtray at various times in various places like
incense... she'd forget that she lit one up in another room or whatever. Their
bathroom reeked unbelievably of ciggies... worst room in the house by far... no
window... just a little 6 inch worthless ceiling fan. I'm certain she smoked
throughout her pregnancies as well... back then in the 50s they didn't know how
bad it was for you or the baby. (I'm sure smoking while she was pregnant with
me, as well as all the secondhand smoke was probably why my eyes were so messed
up at birth... as well as the ease in which I can now contract chronic
bronchitis... but that's an argument for another day...) Mom contracted asthma later
in life. She never quit smoking. She actually died from a sudden severe asthma
attack when she was only 62. Her pulmonary doctor wouldn't come right out and
say that her attack was directly the result of her smoking. When I questioned
him, it was obvious to me that he was a bit guarded about the subject and not
being forthright... but when I discussed it further, he admitted that it
certainly made her situation much worse being a smoker. My Dad nearly quit after
that, but couldn't quite do it. He died at age 64 of kidney cancer only 14
months later. Once he discovered he had cancer and it was inoperable, he pretty
much said "screw it" and smoked as he pleased. I don't blame him. It must be one
of the worst addictions known to mankind.

I'll stop now, before I DO climb onto my soapbox. I don't want to offend
anyone, but this subject is very sensitive to me.

- Ken

"In Long Island where it FINALLY stopped raining! Yay! The sun is out...
clear blue skies... Spring is in the air... and weatherman says it will be a
gorgeous weekend with temps climbing into the high 70s and even 80 on Monday!"

L. P. Skeen on fri 16 apr 04


YOU might be stretching the truth there, but I'm not. Not sure if it's
fortunately or unfortunately, but I have been blessed/cursed with one more
sensitive sniffer, and being near someone who smokes is purt'near unbearable
for me - my sinuses stop up in a heartbeat.

The only smoking person I've been around and NOT had a problem with is our
very own Wayne Seidl, who is one of THE most considerate smokers I know (He
remembers to exhale OUTSIDE the car, and he field dresses his butts and does
not toss them on the ground!). We rode to NCECA together (12 hours in a car
each way) and the only time I smelled smoke on him was IMMEDIATELY after
he'd had a cig.

My grandmother smoked Salems ALL the time, and only stopped when she had her
first (of many) stroke(s) and was trapped inside the hospital and couldn't
get out. Docs said flat out that the cigs caused the strokes.

Now for a weird true story: My grandfather had a green thumb, and grew
plants all over everywhere. He even had a pineapple top grow up to have
fruit in his living room, but I digress.... Paw had a philodendron-type
vine plant that grew up a string to the ceiling, and then ran on a string
all the way around the room and back down the first string. Grandmother's
chair was by the door, and she would sit there and smoke. The weird thing
is, that plant was greenest directly over Grandmother's chair.....go fig.

L
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenneth J. Nowicki"
Subject: Re: smokers smell! (OT)


> No offense, but don't count on your clients not having any idea that you
are smoker. I can practically detect a smoker from clear across the room.
(Okay,
> so I'm stretching the truth slightly here...)

Anne Webb on sat 17 apr 04


hey ken..

i grew up in a similar situation as you with both parents who smoked
anywhere from 2 to 3 packs a day. our kitchen always needed repainting after
2 or so years, the tv screen always had a thick yellow coating on it, etc
etc, but we always thought that was just normail. i didnt know any
different til i went off to university and came home one weekend and the
smoke actually woke me up.. like a hand that crept under the door and made
its way to my nostrils to wake me up.

my dad was the first to suffer some health probs and had a stroke in his
50s.. quit smoking cold turkey when the doc laid it on the line. he was
amazed at the return of his taste buds and sense of smell. (not to mention
the monetary savings as well). at first he would ask my mum to light up so
he could at least watch someone else enjoying a smoke. now he lives by
himself, without any other smokers around. he was surprised recently when
he went on a trip with his sister who smokes constantly, how much the smoke
got to him. he kept telling me "i had no idea what it was like for you".

my mom, however, continued to smoke even after she was diagnosed with
breast cancer.. and after a 10 year period of remission and it metasticized,
she only quit when she couldnt breathe or take a step without coughing up
black stuff. pretty picture eh? well to her last day of lucidity, she
adamantly denied that cigs had anything whatsoever to do with the cancer.
ok. she was only human. she smoked from the age of 15 to her death at 61, 10
yrs ago.

and you're right.... back when, they didnt know the adverse effects of
smoking upon pregnancy or the effects of second hand smoke on babies/kids.
my mum smoked all through her pregnancy. in fact, i remember growing up and
my parents joking about me having nicotine withdrawal when i was born! i
have asthma...so did my brother. have had it since i was little, but its
not as bad as it used to be... u cope.

cig smokes make me sneeze and sometimes wheeze, and i dont necessarily enjoy
the smell, but i dont get all outwardly over dramatic about it. i agree
with you, ken, a non-smoker is usually quite aware of who is a smoker or
not..they just might not mention it as a fellow smoker would... sorry,
stacy. (i notice it even more being pregnant and having an annoyingly
super-human sensibility to smell.) there is always a slight hint of it on
a smoker's clothes, hair, breath, teeth, etc. (also makes you look older...
skin around face is affected.. drawn a bit. there is some medical
explanation but i'll leave that to someone else).

but i am not going to judge somebody because they smoke. there is no excuse
not to know the risks in this day and age. its their body and choice but i
am always thankful when they're not smoking around me. if a gallery owner
chooses to smoke in his establishment, hey its his establishment...it might
not be a super marketing choice to do so as it may drive away some customers
(and they may not be aware that it does), but.. its their choice.

i will gove them credit.. smokers for the most part these days are pretty
considerate, and will usually be apologetic if they think the smoke is
bothering you an will either go outside or put out their cig. if they
arent, its usually a case where they dont know how its affecting you or how
it smells or..whatever. and sometimes if you dont suffer from allergies or
asthma or whatever, its hard to fully relate to what's happening and be
perhaps be a little skeptical and even a little less than sympathetic.

anyhow.. there i go on another tangeant long after my teacup is empty.
guess i've fallen into the OT culture of clayart afterall.

Anne
its like a beautiful Canadian summer day here on the Gulf coast!

>From: "Kenneth J. Nowicki"

> > If I have clients over you can bet they have no idea that I smoke,
>unless
>they do.
>
>Stacy,
>
>No offense, but don't count on your clients not having any idea that you
>are
>smoker. I can practically detect a smoker from clear across the room.

>I would be willing to bet most
>smokers don't notice it that much, if at all.

>I grew up the youngest of three boys. Both parents had been lifelong
>smokers...


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